Syrians Down Israeli Plane; Wounded Pilot Lands in Israel Territory

March 6, 1956

JERUSALEM (Mar. 5)

Syrian anti-aircraft guns fired today at an Israeli airplane flying low over Israel territory in the Daphne region, Upper Galilee. The plane was hit and made a forced landing within Israel territory. The pilot was wounded.

The Israel Government immediately instructed the Israeli delegation at the United Nations to call the attention of Security Council members to the Syrian acts of aggression yesterday and today. It also filed a protest with the Mixed Armistice Commission on the downing of the plane.

The body of a third Israeli policeman killed yesterday by Syrians who raked an Israeli patrol boat on Lake Tiberias with gunfire was today handed over by the Syrians to United Nations observers who transferred the body to Israeli representatives. A fourth wounded policeman on the boat is still missing. The UN observers have not yet completed their investigation of the incident. United Nations officials here intend to publish an official statement after the investigation is completed.

Gen. E.L.M. Burns, chief of the UN Truce, Supervision Organization, conferred today with Dr. Walter Eytan, director general of the Israel Foreign Office, at the latter’s invitation. Dr. Eytan conveyed to the UN truce chief the “gravest concern” of the Israel Government over yesterday’s Syrian attack on the Israel police boats. Gen. Burns was accompanied by Henri Virgier, his political adviser.

A Jordanian sabotage unit today crossed the Israel frontier and attempted to sabotage the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv train. The attempted sabotage took place between Beit Safafa, on the Jerusalem outskirts, and Bitar, several miles west of Jerusalem. Workmen discovered the removal of rails before the train arrived and averted a derailment.